£115,000 On Your Annuity Cost to Private Savings

When there was a Coalition government in 2010, the triple lock, came to fruition, assuring savers that it will go up based on inflation, sporting a rise in yields of 2.5 percent.

But it is now in a tenuous position because, after 2020, the Conservatives expect to bring forth a double lock that allows a rise in pensions in the United Kingdom (UK) attached to inflation and earnings.

According to those questioned at Fidelity International, the choice of buying just a part of the triple lock could incur costs to savers of approximately £115,000.

To support its statistics, Fidelity quoted on annuities in line with an average state pension if it rose either by 2.5 percent per year or, on the other hand, in line with inflation against retail costs as measured by the Retail Price Index (RPI).

As to a savings annuity equal to the state pension at its beginning, and that would not rise as years go by, a 66 year old man would have to pay £159.55 a week or £8,319 a year.

To account for RPI rises, it would cost £276,900 – a further £115,050.  With raises at 2.5 per cent being not quite so expensive, the cost would be £230,650, meaning savers would have to pay an extra £68,800.

The head of pensions policy at Fidelity, Richard Parkin, indicated that “One can’t buy an annuity with triple-lock increases. But just taking one element of its guarantee shows its value.

‘Providing inflation protection has always been expensive but is particularly so in today’s climate of low interest rates and rising inflation.

‘These figures show why there is so much political attention on state pension increases. While they don’t show the cost to government, they do emphasise that while the state pension seems like a small amount of money, maintaining its purchasing power over time is a huge expense.

‘Guaranteeing it will go up by at least 2.5 per cent even when inflation is low is a significant financial commitment and one the Conservatives have decided we can no longer afford,”